When people think of an interior design career, they often picture the polished moments: beautiful moodboards, layered fabrics, a perfectly styled console table, or the thrill of seeing a vision come to life. And yes, those moments are real and incredibly rewarding. But they’re only part of the story.
But what they don’t always show you and what I wish I’d known earlier is just how much of this work happens behind the scenes in an interior design career. So much of interior design is about logistics, project management and problem-solving. Coordinating trades, tracking deliveries, chasing samples, checking dimensions, monitoring timelines – it’s endless detail and constant movement. And then there’s the emotional weight of it all. You’re not just creating something pretty you’re shaping someone’s home. That comes with real pressure, expectations, and emotion.
An interior design career also requires a huge amount of resilience. You have to be calm under pressure, firm yet kind, creative yet highly organised. It’s a constant balancing act and there have been times when I’ve felt overwhelmed. But those moments come with the territory and they’re also what have helped me grow the most.
But here’s the part that keeps me coming back every single day in my interior design career: The joy. The creativity. The people. The sheer privilege of working with some of the most talented craftspeople, artists, and suppliers in the world. The way a client’s eyes light up when they walk into their finished home. The beauty we get to bring into the everyday. The way great design can transform how someone lives, feels, and connects with their space.
I love working with other creatives, discovering an incredible new ceramicist or collaborating with an artisan on bespoke cabinetry. I love learning about other cultures and lifestyles through the international projects we take on; from the elegance of a London townhouse to a chalet in the Alps, a holiday home in Oman, or a waterfront property in the Gulf. Each project expands my perspective and reminds me how deeply personal an interior design career is.
No two days are ever the same, and I honestly never get bored in my interior design career. There are still so many ideas I want to explore, so many types of projects I’d love to work on. The learning never stops, and that’s part of the magic.
Why I started the Academy
When I think back to starting this journey from my dining table nearly 20 years ago, I remember how much I longed for guidance in my interior design career. I didn’t have access to mentors or the inside knowledge of how a design studio really worked.
That’s why I created the Sophie Paterson Academy to give others what I wish I’d had. Real-life knowledge, yes. But also reassurance. Encouragement. Systems and structure. We don’t just show you what looks good, we explain why it works, how to present it, how to manage the journey from concept to installation.
An interior design career is one of the most fulfilling, transformative careers I can imagine but it’s not always easy. This is a career that will test you, stretch you, and push you to grow. But if you’re willing to lean into all sides of it – the mess and the magic – it will reward you tenfold. That’s what the Academy is here for. To help you feel prepared, confident, and creatively inspired, no matter where you are in your interior design career journey.
Your Questions, Answered
Below, I’ve shared some of the questions I’ve been asked by our followers along with my honest answers about navigating an interior design career.
How do you stay organised when juggling multiple projects at once?
Organisation is absolutely crucial in interior design. We have systems and processes in place that we stick to religiously – they’re the backbone of how we manage multiple timelines, clients, and contractors without things slipping through the cracks.
As a team, we meet weekly to review all of our live projects. We check in on timelines, outstanding items, and any dependencies across the board so that everyone stays aligned and nothing gets missed.
One habit I’ve found particularly helpful is blocking out focused time for each project, rather than flitting between them throughout the day. It’s so tempting to react to emails as they come in or jump between tasks especially when everything feels urgent. But I’ve found that carving out blocks of time to fully immerse myself in one project at a time makes a huge difference to both my productivity and my headspace.
How do you typically approach larger-scale projects: Do you develop each room from concept to drawings before moving on, or do you prefer working phase-by-phase, starting with mood boards across the entire project, then progressing to layouts?
To answer your question, we would typically begin a project on a room-by-room basis, creating a mood board visual for each space. Occasionally, when working with large open-plan areas or expansive hallways that span multiple floors, we will produce a mood board for the entire space. We then introduce subtle variations between rooms or zones. This approach is especially important if there are architectural features you wish to highlight or communicate.
How do you manage installations so that they run smoothly?
We always have all furniture delivered to our chosen storage providers warehouse ahead of time. That gives us a chance to check every item thoroughly for damage, missing parts, or incorrect finishes and get any issues resolved before the install day.
We also label everything with its allocated room. That means when the delivery team arrives on-site, they’re not asking where things go they can move efficiently. It’s a small detail, but it makes a massive difference to the flow of the day and the stress levels on-site.
How do you deal with self-doubt or imposter syndrome?
Even after 17 years in this interior design career, that little voice still creeps in… Is this good enough? Am I good enough? Have I got this right? It’s something I don’t think ever fully goes away, especially when you care deeply about your work.
What helps me most is having a trusted team or sounding board. Just saying the doubt out loud often puts it into perspective. That’s one of the reasons I created the Sophie Paterson Academy to build a supportive community where you can learn from our shared experience and insights. Our weekly newsletter is a safe space to reach out for feedback or guidance if you’re feeling stuck.
Another tip is to go back to your process. When doubt sets in, lean on the structure you’ve created. Trust the steps, the rationale behind your choices, and your experience. In the course, we guide you through every stage, so when things feel uncertain, you’ve always got something solid to return to.
Self-doubt is normal, but trust your instincts, follow the process, and your designs will naturally develop along with tour ability as an interior designer.
How do I get new clients and scale my interior design business?
I can’t stress this enough: professional photography is everything in an interior design career. Styling and shooting your projects well even if it means borrowing accessories or using items from your own home is a game-changer.
Almost 90% of my clients have found me through Instagram. Strong visuals give potential clients a real sense of your style and attention to detail. They’re your portfolio and your most powerful marketing tool.
How do you manage client expectations when there are delays or changes?
Unfortunately, there are a lot of moving parts in a design project and many are outside of your control in an interior design career. Suppliers run late, couriers get things wrong, or items arrive damaged. As frustrating as it is, it’s a reality of the job.
The best thing you can do is be transparent from the start. If something changes, tell your client as soon as possible, and offer a solution. They might not love the news, but they will appreciate your honesty and proactiveness.
I’m hoping to use plant on mouldings in our formal dining and lounge rooms, but the artwork isn’t centred on the main wall in the lounge – it’s centred over the sofa. Do you think it makes it impossible to panel properly? I’m wondering how to add interest to the walls if I can’t use mouldings.
Mouldings should always respond to the architecture of the room first and foremost. They need to feel like they’ve always been there, not added as an afterthought. That means the lines and proportions should work in harmony with doors, windows, ceiling heights, and the overall layout – not necessarily your furniture or art placement.
Without seeing the room it’s hard to give a definitive answer, but one tip I always recommend is to map it out with masking tape or chalk first. Stand back, adjust, and get a feel for how it balances visually in the space, especially in relation to other focal points like a fireplace or doorway.
If the mouldings feel too forced, there are plenty of other ways to add interest to the walls in an interior design career such as:
- Specialist finishes like polished plaster add subtle texture and depth
- Wallpaper is another brilliant way to create impact
If you’re ready to start or grow your own rewarding interior design career, check out the Sophie Paterson Academy’s Interior Design Career Course here.
For a behind-the-scenes look at life in the industry, watch my YouTube video on ‘Business, Design & Personal Life’.
For more inspiration, explore our portfolio to see how I translate timeless design principles into distinctive, character-filled homes. For exclusive behind-the-scenes content, including project reveals, product collaborations, and more insights into our design process, subscribe to our YouTube channel.
And for daily inspiration, updates, and a closer look at life inside the studio, follow us on Instagram @sophiepatersoninteriors and Tik Tok @sophiepatersoninteriors
